Heidi Boone

Trattoria Pulcinella on Concord Avenue in Cambridge is one of my favorite restaurants. You DO feel like a sardine when sitting down at one of their tables in the very small space but somehow it works and adds a "upbeatness" to the atmosphere. Everything about this place is earthy and the food is great. I had one of their 'specials', grilled salmon with an artichoke sauce. Their pasta dishes are always cooked to perfection. This is definitely a great place to go to unwind.

Are you moving to the city or new in town? Do you want to explore some great resources for your canine companions?

Because we're hoping to make the move from the burbs to Somerville fairly soon and we have a very active viszla puppy, I've been doing some research on where to bring my dog and which places are dog friendly. My stable of dog friendly places up until today included the bike path and a little dog park on on Elm Street where Anya the viszla has enjoyed playing with a very friendly pit bull.

And, there is also the walk around Fresh Pond in Cambridge and a little farther out is Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover. It's well worth a weekend drive. The traffic is slower at this time and you can get there in about 30 minutes. There are countless trails, lots of history and paths are bike, horse and dog friendly. We cross-country ski on many of the trails in the winter. Look up some of the maps online. http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/harp.html

Dylis Burke, owner of Dogma and Catma Too on Somerville Ave. has a store that is a great resource for us canine lovers. She's helpful with everything from training to diet and had a list of suggestions for dog friendly places in the area. Dylis said the Somerville Dog Association, wwww.somervilledog.com, is a great asset to dog lovers moving into the area. If you become a member, you have access to a list of reputable dog sitters and dog play areas, etc. There is also an active group in Charlestown, www.charlestowndog.blog.com.

Dylis also suggested the Fells. Sheepsfold is an area of the Fells where dogs can run off leash. It covers an area between Medford and Melrose. Info is available on dogspot.com.

I've mentioned Dogma in another blog but would strongly advise anyone new to the area or interested in connecting with a dog savvy individual to visit the store, www.dogmacatmatoo.com and to consider reaching out to the above associations as well. These are great resources!

I really think Cambridge Healthworks for women is a great deal. For anyone who loves yoga, you can't go wrong by signing up. The classes are varied, you can choose from traditional aerobics, kickboxing, nia and strength classes among others. They also offer 2 one on one sessions with a personal trainer. The thing that really sold me on membership (which is admittedly a tad high) are two things: it's exclusively women and incredibly clean. The eucalyptus steam bath and whirlpool are added pluses.

I cook with Penzey's spices thanks to my friend Lisa. She gave us a bunch of their spices as a birthday gift. They offer gift sets that I'm sure any cook would appreciate. I love their French mix, it's absolutely delicious. That with a wee bit of olive oil, wine, lemon and a few shallots is the perfect mix for poultry. We actually got a whole gift set: Sunny Spain seasoning, Singapore Seasoning and French seasoning are among our faves. The mixes they use are unusual and bring a great flavor to many of the simple dishes we prepare during the week.

Inman Square is full of great area restaurants and local bars but don't walk past Rosie's bakery if you're in the mood for something special. They have great desserts and they seem to be less sweet than other bakeries that I've tried. Try their brownies if you're a chocoholic like moi.